Pair of Small Business Owners Could Earn $1 Million Through “Official Small Business Of NASCAR

NASCAR and Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), the Official Office Products Partner of NASCAR, today announced the two small businesses finalists who could win $1 million in its annual “Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot” sweepstakes. Office Depot partnered with another NASCAR Partner, 3M, for this promotion.

Finalists Kacie Howard, owner of HuckleBerry Pets, in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Sara Mortensen, owner of Bales Mold Service, Inc., in Downers Grove, Ill., will be officially introduced during a special press event this Friday, Sept. 2, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Howard, 32, and Mortensen, 27, will be joined at the press event by Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala and team owner of Stewart-Haas Racing, and Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford.

Stewart and Biffle will each feature one finalist’s logo on their respective race cars during this weekend’s nationally televised NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sunday, Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Howard was randomly paired with Stewart, while Mortensen was matched with Biffle.

The small business featured on the highest-finishing driver’s car at the end of Sunday’s race will be named the 2011 “Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot” and receive the use of the “Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot” logo for one year.  Additionally, if Stewart or Biffle win the race, the small business featured on the winning car will walk away with $1 million. As finalists, both Howard and Mortensen receive a $10,000 small business makeover from Office Depot and a VIP experience this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“NASCAR has always had a strong relationship with small business owners, with millions of our fans owning or working for small businesses themselves,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president, partnership marketing and business solutions. “This program provides the kind of exposure and resources that most small businesses typically cannot afford.”

Meet The Finalists:

Kacie Howard, an avid NASCAR fan whose nine-year-old daughter was born on the day of the 2002 Daytona 500, started HuckleBerry Pets in July 2010 with her husband, Chris. The business specializes in manufacturing comfortable, stylish and durable pet beds using orthopedic mattresses that help support a pet’s muscles and bone structure. She plans to use the $10,000 Office Depot makeover to purchase computers, printers and other general supplies for her business.  If Howard were to win the $1 million prize, she said she would set her sights on expanding her business.

Sara Mortensen’s father, Steve Bales, and uncle, Mike Bales, founded Bales Mold Service, Inc., in 1978. Bales Mold Service, Inc., represents the cutting edge of engineered coatings and finishes, and continues to be at the forefront of developing technology to service varied industries. In November 2009, Mortensen’s father passed away and the company was handed down to her and her sister, Stacey Bales.  Knowing that their father was a racing fan, Mortensen dug out his old NASCAR hat and put it on her desk for good luck after entering this year’s sweepstakes.

The “Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot” sweepstakes finalist prize package includes: a $10,000 small business makeover from Office Depot (if applicable, the $1 million payout would negate the $10,000 small business makeover); VIP race experience for two at the Sept. 2-4 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway; and the use of the “Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot” logo for one year, including on company stationery materials (to be printed by the Copy & Print Depot at Office Depot). Outside of the two finalists, Office Depot allowed even more small business owners to win big this year during the “Official Small Business of NASCAR, Courtesy of Office Depot” sweepstakes. Every day during the promotion window, which ran from May 1 through May 28, one lucky small business owner was randomly selected to receive a $1,000 Office Depot gift card and Officially Licensed NASCAR® memorabilia just for entering.

NASCAR PR